A Church Answering
the Call

When I (Briana) became a Journeyman, I felt a strong desire to serve children in foster care in a practical way. One of the first ideas that came to mind was creating a clothing closet specifically for children entering foster care. Many children arrive in care with very few belongings, and I wanted to help provide something simple but meaningful—clothes that would help them feel comfortable, cared for, and valued.

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When I shared this vision with my church back home in Florida, the response was incredible. Members of the congregation immediately began donating clothing, shoes, and other essentials for children in foster care. Even though I was serving in Georgia, my church family in Florida eagerly stepped in to help make this vision a reality.

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Each time I flew home to visit, I returned with my checked suitcase completely filled with donated clothing and supplies. Trip after trip, my bags came back packed with items that people had generously given to help children they had never even met.

At one point, the donations had grown so large that my parents loaded up the church van—completely filled with clothing and supplies—and drove it all the way to Georgia to deliver everything.

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In January, I began cleaning and preparing the space that would eventually become the clothing closet. By March, it was fully stocked and ready to serve children entering foster care. Thanks to the generosity of my church in Florida, the closet was filled with clothing for every season and in every size.

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What began as a simple idea quickly became something much greater. Every rack and shelf in the closet tells the story of a community that chose to step in and care for vulnerable children.

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This clothing closet is more than just a place to store clothes—it is a reminder of what can happen when people come together with compassion, generosity, and a willingness to help.

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This story is a reminder that when the church comes together with compassion and generosity, simple acts of kindness can grow into something that changes lives. Every church has the opportunity to make a difference for children and families in foster care.

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